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Iain McColl

Iain McColl was homeless when, upon seeing a poster advertising the Business Action on Homelessness scheme whilst staying in a hostel, he began to turn his life around. Iain has now secured a job on the Library of Birmingham construction site and, significantly, a home of his own.

Continuing its commitment to people even during the construction stage, the Library of Birmingham, via construction partners Carillion, has teamed up with BAOH, a scheme run by Business in the Community, to provide new job creation opportunities in the run-up to the project’s completion in 2013.

Having come through the programme, which included a two day induction and two week voluntary placement, Iain, who was homeless for two years, impressed enough to receive a job offer to remain on site, an opportunity which has allowed him to start rebuilding his life.

Now working as an Assistant Engineer for sub-contractors Morrisroe, Iain is benefiting from the opportunity to study for NVQs, and the possibility of becoming an engineer in his own right, improving his future career prospects.

It’s somewhat appropriate that Iain is working on the building of the Library of Birmingham, as he is in fact an avid library user himself.

The native of Falkirk, Scotland is also now using the library to help further his own creative endeavours. A keen reader of philosophy and poetry, Iain is looking to publish his own collection of poetry, and is using the library’s Business Insight department to get help in doing so. Who knows, maybe Iain’s books could one day adorn the shelves of the Library he helped to build!